At mayoral forum, 6 contenders dish on economy and job plans

A little less than two weeks away from the city mayoral preliminary election, the six contenders squared off during a forum Wednesday night. The candidates — incumbent Mayor Will Flanagan and opponents Joseph Carvalho, Joao Costa, Mike Raposa, Richard Renzi and William Grinvalsky — met at t...

A little less than two weeks away from the city mayoral preliminary election, the six contenders squared off during a forum Wednesday night.

The candidates — incumbent Mayor Will Flanagan and opponents Joseph Carvalho, Joao Costa, Mike Raposa, Richard Renzi and William Grinvalsky — met at the Matthew J. Kuss Middle School and took on a number of issues, including unemployment and economic development.

After a lottery drawing, Flanagan was first to deliver his three-minute opening remark. He reviewed what he identified as his accomplishments in the past three and a half years in office.

“At that time, the city had an unemployment rate of 19 percent. Three and a half years, by working with this community, we’ve reduced unemployment rates by 7 percentage points,” Flanagan said.

At the time Flanagan took office, the Department of Revenue was threatening to place the city into receivership because of multimillion-dollar deficits, Flanagan said. But with updated audits and balanced budgets, that threat is over, he said. He also credited his administration with improving city schools by decreasing dropout rates and improving student scores.

“As mayor, I recognize that, even though we’ve made progress, there is still a lot of work to be done,” Flanagan said. “That’s why I’m seeking a third term as mayor.”

Mike Raposa, who’s making his second run for mayor, said he has already been working on trying to improve economic development in the city and has met with Philadelphia manufacturing companies to expand here.

“After hundreds of phone calls, I made three that contacted me back to see about expanding to Fall River,” Raposa said, “and manufacturing is making a new comeback. And the reason is alpaca fiber, it’s a cash crop, it’s always there.”

Raposa said he also met with two companies in Pittsburgh to do the same thing.

“Now these five companies are working together to expand here,” Raposa said.

Having more jobs in the city is candidate Joao Costa’s goal if he is elected. He also touted goals for more police and better education.

Running for the mayor for the first time, Joseph Carvalho said his motivation to seek the office comes from frustration faced by many residents, such as a lack of jobs, increased taxes and ineffective government.

Carvalho highlighted his involvement in the 10-year effort to stop the LNG terminal and said he is a neighborhood leader who supports local business.

“Most of you know me as a fighter. I fought for Fall River on Beacon Hill,” Carvalho said.

Candidate Richard Renzi, making his second bid for mayor, told the crowd of about 100 people he was a different candidate because he is the only candidate “who is still not connected to anyone in the city.”

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“Therefore my decision-making will be right down the center on everything that requires my input,” Renzi said, “I do not own any political promises as a result.”

Renzi said that he believes that elected officials should be held accountable and that he would work very closely with the City Council for the betterment of the city.

“I am your guy from the street,” said first-time candidate William Grinvalsky. “I’m not a politician, I’m from the street. I carry a food stamp card.”

Grinvalsky criticized Government Center, saying in needs to get back to the business of public service, and he charged that Fall River was being run by a wealthy few.

“It’s time to make it equal for everybody,” Grinvalsky said. “Everybody is a taxpayer, and everyone should be equal.”

On the questions of economic development and the city’s still-high unemployment rate, Carvalho suggested branding the city in a particular way to attract developers and utilizing the areas college and university to help train the unemployed in areas that match companies needs.

Raposa agreed that education was key to creating jobs in the city.

Flanagan called economic development the most important issue in the city and said he’s working with federal, state and local delegations, the City Council and the private sector to put forth zone changes and incentives to attract businesses.

He said he works every day to create the economic climate in the community that attracts business, while keeping the doors of current businesses open.

There are many people in the city without any income, and despite Flanagan’s claims he helped lower the city’s unemployment, it remains high, Grinvalsky said. As far as the mayor’s view that red tape hinders economic development, Grinvalsky said it was time for city leadership to go to Boston and “kick some butt.”

“We have to let Deval Patrick know that Fall River is suffering,” Grinvalsky said.

Renzi said it was time to start working with the nine City Council members to rewrite laws that make the city “business-unfriendly,” and he said the city has the ability to change its own economy.